Ralph McTell — The Fairground

Standing alone in the fairground at night The world racing past on the streets Only the stars and the headlights of cars Light the fantasy world while it sleeps And I looked around but there wasn't a sound But the cinders under my feet Candy-floss sticks spelt words on the ground I tried to read them in vain Before it was clear the wind blew my hair And re-phrased the sentence again I stopped to light my last cigarette The fair was lit up in its glow I threw it away but the light seemed to stay Like 'twere moonlight shining on snow And I hardly dare breathe I just couldn't believe Then the music started to flow Slowly everything started to move 'Cept me and I stood quite still Then came a soft cry near the coconut shy Will you take to ride on the wind And around and around the big wheel when spinning Round and around until I noticed although the fairground was moving The rest of the world stopped still It was then that I realised that I'd have to get off Although I would've much rather stayed Then with a jolt the wheel came to a halt And the music started to fade As the lights went dim my head started to spin Told myself that I wasn't to blame Looked at the ground at the candy-floss sticks Now the message was plain Behind me the wheel and the fairground were still And outside it was moving again